EXPLORING THE STRATOSPHERE
Photograph by Richard H. Stewart
POISED FOR ITS CLIMB INTO THE SKIES
At dawn on July 28 the gondola had been fastened to its supporting ropes and the Explorer
was about ready to take off for the stratosphere. The faint lines extending diagonally downward
from the upper catenary band are the double tethering ropes. A few minutes after this photograph
was taken, these ropes were pulled through their eyelets and dropped, leaving the weight of the
gondola and a few hand ropes attached to it holding the balloon to earth.
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